ITBP rescue 100 persons; retrieve 30 dead bodies in Leh

LEH - Indo-Tibetan Border Police rescued 100 persons and retrieved more than 30 dead bodies from the debris on Saturday, the second day of rescue operation being carried out in Leh.

The relief and rescue operation is being carried out at a height of 11,500 feet by about 1,000 ITBP personnel.

ITBP has opened three relief camps for victims in which over 350 homeless have been accommodated. Over 200 injured persons have so far been provided medical aid.

The ITBP jawans have vacated their own accomodation for the affected homeless villagers.

ITBP has established free food stalls and more than 1000 victims have been provided food from these stalls. Besides, free flood and medicines are being provided to the affected population.

Kumbha Hall, one of its big auditoriums, has been converted into Disaster wards.

One hundred injured were admitted in ITBP hospitals. ITBP along with GREF is connecting the breaches in the Leh highway.

The search and relief work started at 0600 hrs on Saturday. It faced difficulties because rain has loosened the debris.

The search and rescue work involves digging mud, debris, removing heavy parts of collapsed buildings, furniture, broken glasses and metallic parts etc. It poses hazards to rescuers also.

Undeterred by all these difficulties and challenges, ITBP jawans are doing uninterrupted search, rescue and relief work from last 36 hours.

Around midnight a cloud burst occured in catchment area of Sabu nala and at about 0100 hrs the fast flowing muddy water, debris and slush hit Choglumsar village, ITBP campus and nearby downhill areas.

ITBP launched an extensive search and rescue work at 0100 hrs on August 6 only. All the battalions of ITBP under command of Sector DIG (Leh) of ITBP pressed their integrated Search and Resuce team in the relief work.

These teams are equipped with specialized equipments used for search and rescue work in high Himalayas.

The disastrous flow of mud, debris and slush has totally washed away about an area of 500 metres long and 300 metres wide at Choglumsar Village.

The rescue work is still going on, as it is very difficult and time consuming to retrieve bodies from the heavy mixture of mud, water, stones, part of damaged structure and household things.

Cranes and JCB cannot be applied to retrieve bodies because they may cut and destroy bodies in the process of digging.

Directortate General of ITBP has directed its all units to provide all type of help to local administration and affected population. (ANI)